Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Hooligan's Wake Up: MLS expansion fees on the rise

Headlines
the cost to get into MLS as a franchise is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Los Angeles FC had paid $110 million to get into the league, and future expansion sides could be asked to pony up $200 million or more. MLS has many cities interested in joining its league as it hopes to expand to 28 teams by 2020. Sacramento and St/ Louis lead the charge, but San Antonio, Detroit, San Diego, Austin, and Cincinnati are also candidates.

Lofty expansion fees are a quick way for the league to make some easy money, but they very well could slow down future growth. Imagine what one of these expansion teams could do with an extra $200 million? They could build a better stadium, attract more high profile players before their careers decline, or they could even invest it in developing players at the youth level. While MSL may enjoy the windfall of cash that comes from a new team, they very well could be better off cutting prospective owners some slack. Their league could benefit much more in the long term.

Elsewhere, Philadelphia Union are close to boosting their midfield with an American inernational. Alejandro Bedoya is in advanced discussions to join the club from Nantes in France. They would have to first negotiate a deal with Chicago for the top spot in American international allocation order (some stupid MLS invention that really sucks), before sending Nantes around $800,000 for Bedoya's services.

Argentina have named their replacement manager. The scandal wrecked federation has brought on Sao Paulo's Edgardo Bauza to attempt to right the ship on the pitch. He will have to deal with a nation that has seen most of its many star players quit the team after three straight defeats in major tournament finals and the federation showing its extreme levels of corruption.Today's MatchesCONCACAF Champions League
Central FC v. Vancouver Whitecaps- 8pm- Univision Deportes
Pachuca v. Olimpia- 10pm- Univision Deportes

The group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League kicks off today. There are eight groups of three teams vying for a spot in the quarterfinals. Each of the group winners will advance to the knockout stages, which begin late next winter. There are four MLS sides involved: Portland Timbers (MLS Cup winners), New York Red Bulls (East regular season champs), FC Dallas (West regular season champs), Vancouver Whitecaps (Canadian Championship winners), and Sporting Kansas City (US Open Cup winners). Here's each group's draw.